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Just bought a 02 ranger for 1k. Very clean, but needs a transmission, so I’ll put another 55RE in. I did a VIN search and comes up as Edge plus. The truck has Fx4 off-road decals, power doors/ windows, rancho shocks, front hooks, the additional skid plates, 4wd, and the 4.0 sohc. Is Edge plus Fx4 a thing? Or maybe just has FX4 decals added? Couldn’t find much info searching online since internet is such a rabbit hole. Any info is appreciated. Thanks
Last edited by Striker5625; Sep 25, 2023 at 03:27 PM.
2002 4.0l Automatic will be 5R55E in 4x4 version, used in 2001-2011 Rangers and Mazda B4000
You have a 4.0l SOHC engine, remember to change the two long timing chain tensioners, needs to be done every 100k miles or when you buy a used one and don't have a history of when they were last changed, you have to pull the engine if either of these fail, so better safe than sorry, not expensive or hard to change these
Good place to start is the Brochure for your year Ranger
The 2002 FX4 became the FX4 Level II in 2003 and up
FX4 was a package that could be added to Edge trim
2002 FX4 was usually manual trans, but..............Ford will build to suit customer
Seats and wheels look like FX4 trim
On the drivers door "Build Label" under AXLE you should see R8 if its the Torsen 4.10 31-spline, if its R7 then its a regular 4.10 with limited slip
Those seats are from a 02 FX4, and that is the only year Ford used those seats on the FX4. That black interior is indicative of it being a FX4. The fender flares should be black, but they fade with time like yours are. I used dye to bring mine back to the correct color. Yes, the wheels and SS hooks in the front are correct for the 02 FX4.
I have also done a VIN search on mine and saw the reference to an Edge. I don't know why they do that because The FX4 package is added to the XLT. I am very certain you have a 02 FX4, not an Edge. Just for your information, the 02 FX4 only came in 4 colors and yours is one of them. They were black, red, silver and metallic blue (I believe).
The Edge came with the torsion bar suspension in the front with 2WD, which was unique to the Edge. All 02 Rangers with 4WD came with the front torsion bar suspension including the Edge. However, the 02 FX4 was the most capable Ranger Ford had built in a long time. BTW, it was easier to find an automatic 02 FX4 than a manual.
Awesome thanks for the reply’s, clears a bit up. Thought it was good deal at 1,500 just needing a tranny. Probably will change out the rear seal with tranny out. Motor appears and sounds in good working order, but guess I’ll find if there are other things with a deeper dive. Thanks again
2002 4.0l Automatic will be 5R55E in 4x4 version, used in 2001-2011 Rangers and Mazda B4000
Not sure of your trans experience, but here is the issue if you have thoughts. I drove it a bit around the hood and the problem seems to be shifting to 2nd. It will allow shift if the gas is let off, otherwise no shift. Suggest to me internal pressure issue vs solenoids. I had another AT 02 xlt 3.0 that had rough shift a couple yrs back and I replaced all the shift solenoids which fixed the issue.
Ron's advice on changing the hydraulic timing chain tensioners is very good advice. It is not an extremely difficult job. The rear one on the passenger side is pretty easy if you remove the right front tire and go through the wheel well. It may be accessible easily from the rear if you have the transmission out. The front one on the driver side is a little more difficult but it is at least on top of the engine. They do go bad and will break the guides if they go bad. That ends up being a lot more work and money to fix that.
There is also a mechanical tensioner for the main timing chain that drives the jackshaft from the crank. In 02 there was a flaw in the design and could break. I was not aware of that until I rebuilt my cam timing cam chain system. Fortunately, I bought that part among the list of things to replace because mine was totally broken off. I don't know how it ran well without that tensioner. I could tell by looking at it that it had been broken for a considerable amount of time. Replacing it requires removing the timing chain cover, but the engine does not need to be removed. It may be okay, and you may not need to replace it, but it is a good idea to be aware of any unusual sounds in that area.
Good looking truck!
2002 RangerExtendedCab4WD is a close sibling to my 2001 SportTracJob2 with same Frame+WheelBase+DriveTrain+...
Shift issue sounds like the notorious 5r55e slip; possibly a blown out ValveBodyGasket or worn out Solenoid or just old\dirty ATF+Filter.
How many miles on Trans\Engin\Vehicl?
I'd try these Trans remedies in this order:
* Trans ATF Refresh: HandPump 1qt old ATF from TransDipTube, 1qt new MerconV (RedLine#HighTemp\30205 or AmsOil#ssmv\atf1g), Drive 10+ Miles, Repeat 3 times.
Recommend every 4kMiles\6Mths: 3/4qt ATF Refresh @TransDipTube + 1/4qt ATF Refresh @SteeringReservoir + routine Engin Oil+Filter Change.
* Trans FullService: Pan Drop, ATF Drain, ValveBodyBolt ReTorq, New Filter, New PanGasket, Band Adjust, 5~7qt new MerconV.
Recommend every 33kMiles\4Yrs.
* Trans ValveBody Rebuild: New BondedGasket, New Solenoids, New ShiftKit, New ReverseServoGasket+ORings
CentralValveBody(Oklahoma) is a good source for a rebuilt VB.
* Trans FullRebuild\Replace
Recommend renewing ASAP all Fluids+Filters+RadCap+ThermoStat (Oil, Coolant, Trans, Steering, Brakes, TransferCase, Diffs...),
to give the vehicle a known fresh start.
As RonD noted, the two OilPressized TimingTensioners are a NotoriousFailureItem\NFI in the V6~4.0L~SOHC;
renew them now & every 100kMiles\12Yrs then religiously change Oil+Filter every 4kMiles\6Mths.
Also consider swapping out the JunkPlastic ThermoStatHousing for an Aluminum version, another NFI.
